The Labor enquirer., 1887-02-26
A Very Peculiar P roof Of the
Liberty Of Our
People.
A Place Which the Capitalist
Press Dare Not Truthfully
Describe.
A True History Of What the Hocking
was,-Aye, and Is
To-Dayi

the Cook County Bastlle under sentence OF
death. Read, wage-siaves. and understand
the true reason for his persecution.l
II was during the great strike in 1884
the state troops Of Ohio md several
hundred professional cutthroats, eu-
phemistically styled Pinkerton guards,
had taken possession Of the towns and
mines, and treated The starving miners
very much like prisoners Of war-only
with less consideration. when I under
took q journey through the Hooking
Valley to learn the true condition Of
affairs.
In Columbus. Ohio. I happened to get
on the same train that was taking lot
Of slovaks and Hun9arians to the val
lev. Several Polish Jews who had pro-
cured them for the good coal syndicate
to take the places Of the strikers. were
guarding them-lest they might escape
like so many cattle. They were not
exactly chained to each other like con-
victs. No. that would have been un.
American, would have been in violation
OF the right Of free contract Nor was
II necessary TO chain the poor wret,hes,
for they had been told that II any one
should attempt to escape, he would be
shot dead on the spot. And to give
more weight TO this threat the great
state Of Ohio had volunteered q detach.
ment Of militia........ When tried to
speak to one Of the poor devils. one OF
the Jews interfered, and when told the
scoundrel that he had better get his
carcass out Of the reach Of my boots he
called Pinkerton man who gruffiy de.
manded that I should leave the car. l
summoned the conductor but could get
no satisfaction from him. He was sorry,
but his orders were such that he dared
not interfere. II seems, however, that
while this dispute was going on, one Of
tho traders In human Assh espied my
reporters star" for they not only apol.
ogized. changing their attitude suddenly
but called one Of the attorneys Of the
syndicate who happened to be on the
train and introduced him to me. He
was very glad to meet a newspaper cor
respondent, who was about TO write up
matters in the valley-"ves," said lie, at
the same time offering me cigar from
his etui. my dear sir, II Is shameful,
most shameful. l assure you, how We
have been misrs presented In the press
Of the country. You are from Chicago
am glad Of that. shonld be pleased
TO accom- pany YOU oil through the vallev
personally, urgent business, however,
prevents me-but you will stay at Mr..
Buchtel's house-Mr. Buchtel Is the su.
perintendent OF the company-oh, yes,
no will be only too glad to entertain
you........ Besides there is no hotel
within distance Of about forty miles.
Mr.. Buchtel will give you all the partic-
ulars Of this affair, and more, will take
you oil around. You ride horse back,
Of course-he has a lot Of the finest
racing horses In the country"
us there q likelihood that this unfor'
tunate strike will be settled upon an
equitable basis p said I.
& striker. Settled ?" said he.
"well, there Is large strike in the
valley--some 5000 or more."...'
THAT is"-interruI ting me before
had finished-"what the newspapen are
saying. and that is the reason why de-
sire you to stop with Mr.. Buchtel and
inform yourself fully.".. .....There Is nc
strike among our men they are con-
tented and happy and they ought to be
We always nay them high wages; and
they are quite comfortably situated
There are q few agitators among them
however. who have Kicked up thi'
rumpus. Wen get rid Of them though
most Of them are In jail now. and those
who are still at liberty will find that THU
isa very unhealthy c,untry for them
The troops an ! Pinkerton's will have
none Of their monkey business ........
These men have intimidsted the many
thousands Of our miners, who would b.
only too willing 10 return 10 work thii
minute"
"well"-said I-"my Information ]
that these striking coal min.rs did no
average SIS . month. before the iecen
reduction, which Is given as the caus
ofthis strike
"Pshaw any man can earn from IS
10 $50 q month. providing he wants :
work"
Then you are not going to restore tn
old wages2"
"Neverl II is not so much . qusstio
Of money with us-no. II is . Questio
ofprinciplel Let II cost what II maj
We are going to establist the princirl
that We are TO say Whist price shall b
paid for the digging Of coal. and II ther
is anv law In this country We win sue
eeed....... Digging coal with thsss fs
lows (referrinx 70 the. emiRrants) cosi
us three times a. much - we used .
pay our men. but We can a6srd thl
where vital principle y at stake Bu